DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL - Colorado came in 8th in the nation and earned an "A" ranking for its friendliness towards small businesses in an annual survey released Tuesday by Thumbtack.com.

Thumbtack is a website that connects consumers to service professionals and small businesses.

Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation, asked more than 12,000 small businesses how friendly they found their city to be towards them.

Colorado Springs came in No. 1 among 82 major U.S. cities with an "A" grade, followed by Boise, Houston, Austin and Louisville. Fort Collins also ranked high. Sacramento, Providence and Buffalo were the survey's worst-performing cities.

Denver earned a "B+" grade in the survey, rating it 28th in the nation, down from its rating last year of A-.